Flushing out the Questions

Bouncing like rubber balls around in the hollow spaces of any writer's brain are thoughts about their craft, doubts, and questions. And I know a lot of times we try to ignore them, afraid if we acknowledge one, the rest will pour out like a deluge and extinguish our passion for what we do.

But my thought for today is, how bad can it really be to acknowledge them? Wouldn't it feel better to get those bouncy balls out of your thoughts so you can think more clearly? Here's my go at it...

Is it worth it in the end?
Will getting published make me feel like I've finally fulfilled my writing dream?
How do I know if I have that edge to my story that makes it stand out?
Will people really like what I write?
Does anyone even read anymore?
What's the best format to pursue? Online ebooks or traditional?
Should I even bother looking for an agent or just go straight to e-pubbing?
Does my novel have enough oomph?
Are my characters flat and uninteresting?
Is my story all plot and no characterization?
Am I too much in love with what I write to see its flaws?

As writers, I think we re-evaluate our craft, our ideas, and ourselves every time we sit down to write. Perhaps that's why a blank page is so intimidating to some.

Now with all those questions out, I can focus on the reason I started writing in the first place: Because I love it passionately. With that view firmly in mind with no bouncy balls to knock it out of its place, I can write clear and focused.

I'm going to write a list of questions like this every time I sit down to write, just to flush them out of my thoughts and allow myself to get focused.